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A group of kids got a bitter lesson in American justice when they were hit with a $500 fine for operating a lemonade stand without a license. The real rub? The profits were earmarked for a charity to fight pediatric cancer. Officials said they cracked down on the stand, set up near the US Open in Bethesda, Maryland, because it was a major operation. "Cute little kids making five or ten dollars is a little bit different than making hundreds. You've got coolers and coolers here," the inspector grumbled. The fine was reportedly issued after they ignored several warnings.

But some consumers were wondering why authorities were letting the public continue to get squeezed by hustlers in the area who, after buying a nearly $300 permit, are selling parking spaces on their lawns for as much as $60 a head. One neighbor boasted to a cop he had made enough in parking fees over the years to cover his kid's college tuition, reports WUSA-TV.

While back I read a story where the police shut down/fined a little girl selling lemonade in front of her house. Totally outrageous. But this story is different and I agree with the authorities on this one. This was a group of kids vending lemonade at an actual event, potentially serving hundreds and hundreds of people. Someone needed to ensure that basic standards of food service hygiene were being observed. Especially since, as kids, they probably had never worked in food service before. If the authorities really did try to issue warnings as they claimed, then the kids are even more at fault. Why didn't they just apply for a permit? Just because it was for charity shouldn't change the situation. Charitable organizations have to adhere to laws just like for-profit companies do. And for the record,it's not up to the authorities to dictate how much someone wants to charge to park on their own private property. If you're not willing to pay the $60, then park further away and consider taking a 15 minute WALK.

Mugwump

Jun 17, 2011 12:12 PM CDT

8 years ago when I moved away from the area all of maryland was a crime-infested cesspool. Good to know the state has gotten crime down enough that they can fool around with nonesense like that. Maybe the pigs in columbia will have time to get to looking for my car now.

Redtopp

Jun 17, 2011 11:23 AM CDT

This entire thing is ridiculous! Because it's Chevy Chase it is newsworthy? Who cares? Kids have set up little Lemonade stands... in some areas.. KOOL AID stands..for 50years or more; Nothng has ever been on the news or in the newspapers about it.. jeeez...are we running out of people to fk with? As for the man who wrote about being afraid of E-coli and an impending disaster worthy of Center for Disease Control attention --good lord dude ..get a grip! So these parents were able to pay $500--the average parent could not have done this; but these kids continued to sell the lemonade anyway--so what was the point? They say the money was for a pediatric cause...hmm maybe...maybe not,wonder how much of it was 'earmarked for charity' but there are a whole lot of other things getting sold around here why don''t they go chase THEM down...oh--perhaps because these kids are 'easy targets' ... I heard the Vendor License Man ended up buying Lemonade all around and a whiskey for his horse! lolol